System for making starch and starch products



April 8, 1941. P. R. KING ETAI.

sYsTEM Fon MAKING sTAncH Aun sTAncHfrR'onucTs Filed Nov. 29, 1937 Patented Apr. l8, 1941 SYSTEM FOR MAKING STARCH AND STAROH PRODUCTS Philo R. King, Webster Groves, Mo., and Russell D. Baker, Alton, Ill., assignors to Union Starch and Rening Company, Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application November 29, 1937, Serial N o. 177,030

(Cl. L27- 68) 13 Claims.

The present invention relates .to a system for making starch and starch products. It has particularly to do with the conservation of Water and a more desirable flow of water throughout a Wet corn milling system whereby certain disadvantages heretofore existing are eliminated.

In the present system a limited quantity of fresh Water is introduced into the system at the starch washing operation and from there flows to the germ, coarse slop and fine slop reels, or sieves, for washing purposes therein. The addition ci overflow Water from the gluten settlers into these reels is at least substantially eliminated and the gluten settler overflow water is employed in its maior portion for steeping of the corn Where its soluble protein content will not be disadvantageous.

ln the present invention the quantity of water employed is reduced by certain preliminary withdravvals of starch and gluten at relatively high specic gravity so that the remaining starchrequired to be washed from the hull is very materially reduced in quantity; and additionally the amount of Water necessary for washing the hull is correspondingly lessened.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel Wet corn milling system wherein the quantity oi Water employed is very materially re duced.

llt is a further object of the invention to withdraw, at strategically located preliminary points, certainquantites of starch and gluten of relatively high specific gravity thus requiring a re..

duced quantity of Water in subsequent stages of' the process. i i

Specifically, it is an object of the invention to withdraw from the system a quantity of starch and lgluten prior to the germ separator stage, thereby permitting the withdrawal of such starch at a higher specific gravity than that normally required by the germ separator, and consequently eliminating the necessity of reducing this starch to separator gravity by the addition of Water or light starch water as is customary today.

lit is a further object of the invention to reduce the quantity of free starch of heavy gravity going to the germ separator that would otherwise have to be diluted, and thereby4 to enable use of starch milk therein for regulation of volume and gravity having a heavier gravity than the light starch Water which is customarily introduced today.

It is a further object of the invention to reduce the grits to a fine state such that the starch and gluten of which they are composed Will go into a condition of suspension, whereby such starch and gluten may be Withdrawn prior to the Buhr mill and slop Washing operations.

It is a further olojectl of the invention to provide a particularly desirable and novel series crossow system of the Wash Water in .the germ, coarse slop and ne slop Washing operations, having as its object a great reduction in the total amount of water required in said operations.

It is a further object of the invention to Withdraw light starch Water from the germ Washing reels for use in the slop washing systems of the process.

It is an object to provide means to prevent undesirable withdrawal of the germs but to permit such Withdrawal of light starch Water from the germ washing reels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that eliminates at least the major portion of gluten settler Water ordinarily added in the germ, coarse slop and ne slop washing operations.

Further objects of the invention are to provide novel combinations of mechanisms for operation of such system and to provide novel methods based upon said system.

The drawing represents diagrammatically the present system of separating starch from the balance of the corn kernels.

In the drawing, a steep tank is shown at l. This steep tank is adapted to receive shelled corn and a certain quantity of Water, preferably mixed with some SO2. The steep tank has a line 2 through which the water and its contained soluble products, taken up from the corn during the steepfing, may be Withdrawn and evaporated after steeping'.V A line- 3 leads from the steep tank through junction 5 to an attrition mill 6. By means of lthe line 3, the` steeped corn is transmitted, after the steep water is drained therefrom through the line 2, to the attrition mill.

The attrition mill shreds the grains of corn fairly coarsely so that the hull is broken, the gerinis liberated or freed from the kernel, and the starch and gluten, known in this industry as free starch, are partially freed from the other-parts of the grain. This mass passes from the attrition mill through a line 1 to. a mill which may be' inserted, if and when desired, to crush slightly the disintegrated corn kernel, liberating and freeing more starch and gluten from the larger unbroken particles of the corn kernel for purposes that will appear.

From the mill 8 the mass ovrs through a line 8 to a receiving tank I0. From this receiving tank, it is drawn through a line II into preliminary separating reels or screens I2 and I3. ri'he screen I2 is normally coarse and the screen I3 is very iine.

As will be explained hereafter, starch milk from a subsequent operation is added prior to the entry oi the corn into the attrition mill 6 and also into the reels I2 and I3.

A relatively heavy starch milk from the reel I2 passes through line I4 into and through the screen I3. The products, including hulls, grits, germs, etc. separated in the reels I2 and I3, pass through the lines I5 and I1 into the germ separator I6. The starch milk from the reel I3, including starch milk received through the line I4, passes through a line I8 to a screen I9 as will be described.

I'he germ separator, as is known in the art, operates by virtue oi the fact that within a limited gravity range the gemis will oat whereas the hulls, grits, etc. will sink. This range of gravities is normally between 7 and 9 Baume which, as will be shown, is maintained in the germ separator I6. Consequently, the germs may be drawn ofi' from the top of the separator I6 through a line 2| to a series of screens or reels 22, 23, 24 and 25 and ultimately through a squeezer or moisture expeller 26. From the reel 22 the starch milk is returned by line 21 into the germ separator I6 to maintain the proper volume of liquid therein so that subsequent germs may be oated off over the top thereof.v The germs screened by the reel 22 pass through a line 28 into the second reel 23, from there through a line 29 to the third reel 24, and thence through a line 38 t0 the iinal reel 25. A line 3! carries them from the iinal reel 25 to the squeezer 26 in which the free moisture is removed. The germs are then discharged from the system through the line 32.

The moisture or liquid removed by the squeezer 26 is transmitted by a counter-How line 33 back into the line 30 to flow again into the reel 26 with the germs from the reel 24. Likewise, the liquid from the reel 25 is carried Iback by a counterow line 34 to the line 29 leading to the reel 24; and the liquid from the reel 24 is carried by a counter-now line 35 back to the line 28 leading into the reel 23. From the reel 23, which therefore constitutes the light starch water outlet from the germ washing system, such light starch water is drawn oil' through a line 36 to an intermediate screen 31. This screen separates and recovers any germs that may accidentally pass through the screen of the reel 23, and such germs are transmitted back through a line 38 to the line 30 leading into the reel 25 of the germ washing system.

Forecasting, it may be noted that additional water is introduced into the germ washing sysvtem through a line 39 leading to the line 30.

Also the light starch water, leaving the germ washing ,system and owing through the intermediate screen 31, is carried 'by a line 48- into the coarse slop and ne slop washing systems.

Returning to the germ separator I6, the mass of starch milk, grits, hulls, etc., is drawn off from the bottom thereof through a line to a mill 46 in which mill the grits and hulls are sublected, in the presence of the starch' milk accompanying them, to a much more thorough disintegrating and crushing operationY than theretofore. 4This results in freeing an increased amont of starch and gluten from the hulls and, by grinding the grits, allows the Starch and gluten of which theyI are composed to go into suspension with the starch milk already `present. This creates an additional amount of surplus starch milk with advantages as will appear hereinafter.

From the mill 46, the mass iiows through a line I1 to a coarse screen 48. From this screen the solid matter, now mostly hulls, is passed by a line 49 directly into a Buhr mill 50. The starch milk, including surplus previously noted, is transmitted from the screen 48 through a line 5I into a ne screen 52. Thus in these screening operations immediately prior to the Buhr mill, additional starch and gluten are removed from the system prior to the final grinding and washing operations and consequently less water is Anecessary in said washing operations. From the screen 52 the finer particles of hull are carried through aline 53 into the line 48 and to the Buhr mill 58. The starch milk is carried from the screen 52 through a line 54 to a junction 55, in the line I8 leading from the screen I3 whence it passes to the screen I9. An additional part may be directed from a junction 51 via line 58 into the separator I6.

From the Buhr mill the mass, which is primarily ground hull, flows through a line 65 to the coarse and fine slop Washing systems. The coarse slop system includes reels or screens 66, 61, 68, and 69 with a final squeezer 18. The line 65 from the Buhr mill leads into the rst reel 66. From this reel the hulls that are so coarse as not to pass through this copper screen are carried through a line 1I to the reel 61. A line 'I2 transmits them from the reel 61 to the reel 68; a line 13 transmits them from the reel 68 to the reel 69; and a line 14 transmits them from the reel 69 to the squeezer 19. From the latter they are carried through a line 15 out of the system. The iine slop and starch milk that pass the screen of the reel 66 go through a line 16 into the fine slop washing system. This system includes a series of silk reels or screens 11, 18, 19, and 89 followed by a press 8|. The ne hulls from the screen 11 flow through a line 82 to the screen 18; from there through a line 83 to the screen 19; from there through a line 84 to the screen and thence through a line 85 to the press 8| from which they are withdrawn from the system through a line 36.

The coarse and fine slop washing systems have a unique cross counter-flow arrangement for the passage of the water in series through their several screens. From a source to be described hereafter, a water supply line 90 leads into the line 13 to direct water into the last screen 69 oi' the coarse slop washing system. A line 9| leads from this screen 69 to the line 84 ahead of the last screen 80 of the iine slop washing system. From this screen 80 there extends a counter-ilow line 92 to convey the water back to the line 12 leading into the next-to-last screen 68 of the coarse slop washing system. 'Ihis screen 68 has leading therefrom a line 93 connecting into the penultimate screen 19 of the une slop washing system. A counter-now line 94 leads from the screen 19 to the line 1I leading into the screen 61 of the coarse slop washing system. Arline 95 leads from this screen 61 into the line 82 leading into the screen 18 of the fine slop washing system. A counter-flow line 96 passes from the screen 18 to a junction 91, wherefrom it ibranches into the line 98 passing into the line 49 and the Buhr mill, and a line 93 passing into the line 65 leading into the iirst screen 66 of the coarse slop vwashing system.

A counter-fiow-line leads from the squeezer 10 to convey water removed by it from the coarse slop back into the line 13 ahead of the screen 69. Likewise a counter-flow line IOI leads from the press 8| back into the line 9| ahead of the last screen 30 of the ne slop washing system.

Without going into the details of the operations, it is already obvious from the foregoing that the water introduced at 90 flows backward in series through both slop washing systems, counter to the flow of the slops, and iinally, having taken up certain quantities or starch from the slops to become what is termed in the art a light starch water or starch milk of low specific gravity, is Withdrawn-from the coarse and fine slop systems through a line I 02 from the ne slop screen 11. This line leads to the junction 5 to carry a portion of this liquid into the attrition mill. Another portion is withdrawn at a junction |03 by a line |04 into4 the supply tank I0. A further, and usually major, proportion is withdrawn from a junction I'05 through a line |06 into the germ separator I6, or from a junction |01 in the line |06 via a line |06 into the starch line 45 off the bottom of the germ separator I6.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that all of the heavy starch milk ultimately is brought to the screen I0, either through the line I8 from the screen I3, or through the line 54 from the screen 52. In the screen I9 any particles oi hulls and the ylike are separated and pass back through a line |I0 to the line 53 leading into the Buhr mill 50.. The heavy starch milk from the screen I 9 ows through a line III into a tank II2 from which it is directed through a line I|3 and discharged on to the starch tables II4. The starch tables comprise long flat surfaces having la very slight. grade and over which the starch milk is flowed. The starch settles out and the gluten and water flows from the starch tables through a line I|5 into the gluten settlers IIE.

The gluten is withdrawn from the settlers II6 through a line II1 to gluten presses IIB. These presses remove the water from the gluten, which water may be returned by a line II9 into the settlers IIB for resettling. The gluten is then conveyed out by a line |20.

The starch from the tables II4 is directed through a line I 22 into the starch washing system |23.I Fresh water is introduced through a line |24 for washing of the starch. The system includes a filter for removal of starch from the wash water. From this starch washing system |23 the clean starch is then carried of! through a line |25 and out of the system. The water from the starch washing system. afterl being filtered, is passed through a line |26 to a junction |21.

It will be assumed that a quantity of corn is within the steep tank I and that this corn is steeped with gluten settler Water from a previous run. When the steeping is finished, the corn grains have become softened and are drawn out through the line 3 toward the attrition mill 6. Some starch milk is added here from the line |02, as will be explained hereafter, to facilitate the mill operation. In the attrition mill 6, the corn is broken or disintegrated sufiiciently to free the germ. Where the mill 8 is provided, subsequent to the attrition mill 6, a further disintegration or crushing of the kernels is effected for the purpose of breaking at least some of the grits and thereby freeing more starch and gluten to go into suspension with the starch milk present or to be introduced into receiving tank I0, following whichthe mass is conveyed to the tank I0.

The disintegrated corn, together with the starch milk introduced through lines |02 and |04, is

conveyed from the receiving tank I0 to the screens I2 and I3. Practically all the starch and gluten set free from the corn kernels by the milling operation or operations at 6 and 8 and taken into suspension by the starch milk introduced before and after these milling operations, passes with said starch milk through screens I2 and I3 and is withdrawn from the system via the line I8, screen I9, line III, receiving tank |I2, and line I I3 to the starch tables I I4. The resultant gravity of the starch milk from screen I3 will be from 10 to 13 Baum. Thus, a large percentage of the starch and gluten contained in the corn is removed before the balance of the kernel is introduced into the germ separator, thus eliminating the necessity of reducing all this starch and gluten so removed to the customary separator gravity of from 7 to 9 Baum by the introduction of water or light starch water for the purpose, which is customary in processes heretofore practiced, and in which old processes, as a source of supply of light starch water for this purpose, an excess of water or gluten settler water is used in the germ Washing system, which eventually nds its way back to the germ separator..

From the two screens I2 and I3, the heavy material, consisting of germs, hulls and grits, is

conveyed through lines I5 and I1 to the germ From this junction leads the line 90 into the slop washing systems, and the branch |26 that leads to the line 39 introducing water into the' `germ Washing system. It is immediately apparent that the water introduced through the line |26, having been filtered, is free of starch.

From the vgluten settler III, the water is decanted off through a line |29 back into the steep tank-I where it is employed, as has been noted, for steeping the new corn. A portion of this gluten settler water, if desired, may be directed through aline |30 into the line |26 and back into the system.

The operation of the system is as follows:

separator tank I6. In this separator. the level of the starch milk must be maintained sufficiently high and the amount directed into it of sufiicient volume so that there will be a continuous and sufficient iiow over the bridge wall automatically to carry oir the floating germs; and. as previously noted, the specic gravity must be maintained at a range to float the germs, but not to float the hulls or grits, this range being normally from 7 to 9 Baum. This volume and this gravity are maintained in a manner to be described.

The germs are conveyed off through the line 2| to the germ draining and washing screens 22 to 25 inclusive. 'I'he starch milk from the first screen 22 has the same gravity as that in the separator I6. Consequently, the starch milk from this screen 22 is advantageously conveyed back through line 21 to the separator I6 to aid in maintaining the volume therein, which it does without change in gravity. The germs from the screen 22 are then successively conveyed to the screens 23, 24, and 25 of the germ washing system, the squeezer 36, and out' of the system.

Wash water is supplied through the lines I 26, |23 and 3l from the starch washing system, in amount. for example, of approximately 'I to 8 gallons per bushel of corn. This wash water and lwater from the squeezer 2B directed back through the line 33 are introduced into the line I0 and enter with the germs into the tlnal screen 25 of the germ Washing system and wash them. The wash water from the screen 2B is directed back through the line 34 to the line 29 and passes with the germs in that line into the screen 24 and washes the germs in this screen. The wash water from the screen 24 is directed back through the line 35 to the line 28 and passes with the germs in that line into the screen 23 to wash the germs therein. It will be observed that the cleanest water is applied to the cleanest germs. and that as it becomes successively dlrtier (i. e. more abundant in starch) it is washing succes sively dirtier germs.

In this invention, the wash Water from the screen 23 is directed vla the line 36, sieve 31 and line I into the line 11* of the coarse slop washing system to be again or further used in that and the iine slop washing system. Screen 3'@ is introduced as a precautionary measure to catch any germs that may inadvertently leave the screen 23 with the wash water. They are returned vla lines I8 and lll to screen 25. This last course of the wash water from the screen 23 is to be contrasted with former systems, wherein the wash water from screen 23 is returned to the attrition mill 6 or the receiving tank i0 to dilute the mass of disintegrated corn and starch milk going to germ separator, and to maintain the proper gravity therein.

The germs from the germ washing system are ultimately conveyed out through the line 32.

Returning to the germ separator it, with its speciiic gravity properly maintained, the grits and hulls sink to the bottom and, with a certain amount of starch milk, leave the separator through the line 4B, going tothe mill Il. It will be further noted that additional starch milk of lighter gravity is introduced into the mill 46 through the line |08. In the mill 46, 4the grits primarily are further ground or crushed so that practically all of the starch and gluten of which the grits are composed go into suspension with the starch milk present. The outflow from the mill 46 is conveyed through the line 41 to the coarse screen Il and thence through the line Bl to the fine screen l2. It is evident that the starch milk leaving the bottom of the germ separator at 9 to 11 Baume, by taking into suspension the starch and gluten of the grits in the mill IB as explained, will issue therefrom at a much higher gravity. This gravity may be from 12 to 14 Baume. From the screen l2, the

screens 61, 88 and 88 and the line slop continues through the screens 1B, 19 and 80.

A suitable quantity oi' water (for example, approximately or 6 gallons mr bushel of corn) is introduced through the line 90 into the line 13 of the coarse slop washing system whence it enters with the coarse slop into the final screen 88 of that system. The light starch water removed from the coarse slop in the squeezer is also returned through the line |00 into the line 13 and thence with the coarse slop also enters the nal screen 69 of that system. This water washes the slop on the screen G9, and

takes up starch therefrom. It then flows from the screen 69 through the line 9i into the line 84 and thence, with the fine slop, into the ilnal screen 80 of that system. There is also directed back through the line Elli into the line 9i andthe screen 80 the water from the fine slop filter press 8i. This water Washes the iine slop in the screen 8u, and takes up the starch therefrom.

The light starch water from the screen 80 is directed back through the line 92 to the line 12 entering with the coarse slop into the next to last screen 68 of that system. From the screen 68 through the line @8, it continues into the line 83 and thence, with the iine slop, into the next to last'screen 18 of that system. From there, it continues successively, and in like manner, to the second screen 81 of the coarse slop system, the second screen 18 of the iine slop system, the first screen Si of the coarse slop system, a small amount being diverted to the Buhr mill 50 to facilitate its operation, and finally to the rst screen 11 of the iine slop system. Thus, the

" wash water travels not only counter-current to starch milk may be directed through the line M, f

junction 55, and line Il to the screen Il, thence via the line ill, receiving tank Il! and line ill to starch tables Ill. Other portions may be diverted via the Junction l1 and line Il to the separator I6 to aid in maintaining the proper gravity there, in case such gravity is too low. From the screens 4l and i2, the hulls andy mie unground grits, if any, are discharged throug the lines 49 and i3 to the Buhr mill ill.

From the Buhr mill il, the ground' hulls or slop pass through the line into the first screen 68 of the coarse slop washing system. This screen is of comparatively coarse mesh,al1ow ing the ilner particles of hull (line slop) to pass through with the starch milk into the screen 11, the ilrst screen of the fine slop washing system.- The coarse slop continues through the the material in both systems, but in series relative to the two systems rather than in tandem which has been the customary method heretofore. It washes all of the products in the several screens, the cleanest oi both systems being washed rst, and successively dirtier products being washed with successively dirtier water.

It will be observed further that Wash water from the germ washing system is directed through the screen 31 and the line 40 into the line 12 of the coarse slop washing system to augment the amount oi' water directed into this system through the line I0 and, of course, follows the series counter-current ilow described above. 'This water is introduced into the coarse (or fine ii' desired) slop washing system at a point wherein the gravities of the mixing waters will be approximately the same.

Ultimately, from the slop washing systems, the coarse slop is conveyed away by the line 15. Likewise, the ilne slop is conveyed away through the line I6,

I'he counter-current crossflow series principle herein described has particular application to the present system, in cooperation with the reduction and elimination from the system of starch by prior steps in the milling operations. Separately, it may be applied to other starch making and similar systems, so that ir, is made the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent, Serial Number 177,031, illed November 29, 1937.

As noted, the final starch milk obtained from the slop washing systems is of approximately 3 to 6 Baum gravity. Its gravity is. determined by the volume of water added through the line 9U, and that from the germ washing system through the line Il, the volume from the latter being the same as that entering the germ washing system through the lines |28 and 30.

The amount of heavy starch milk going to the germ separator having been greatly reduced by the introduction of sieves l2 and I3, the large amount of light starch water formerly introduced into the germ separator (generally from the germ washing system and now directed into these coarse and fine slop washing systems) for the purpose of maintaining the proper gravity therein, is correspondingly reduced, the smaller amount required for the purpose being now supplied from the line |02 and having a gravity of 3 to 6 Baume. The volume of starch milk inv or going to the germ separator to maintain the correct amount of overflow and bottom outflow therefrom is maintained by returning the starch milk from the germ sieve 22 (having the same gravity as the germ separator) and supplementing this by correct amounts and in proper portions of starch milk from the line 54, junction 51 and line 50 having a gravity of from 12 to 14 Baume, and from the line |02, junction |05 and line |06, this starch Y milk having a gravity of from 3 to 6 Baum.

.it is entirely clear, therefore, that the large amount of starch water of low gravity, such as has formerly been used and generaly obtained from the germ washing system at approximately 1 Baume, is not required to be added to the germ separator either to produce volume or to reduce gravity. Water from the germ washing system (line may therefore be used to augment the fresh water introduced in the course and fine slop washing systems through the line 90, and thereby to reduce the amount of other water required by these systems. The remaining water from the line |02 off the slop washing systems is either conveyed to the line 3, at the junction 5, to assist there in lubricating the mill 6, or is diverted ofi at the junction |03, through the line |04, into the tank I0. Thus, this remaining starch milk from the slop washing systems, through the line |02, ultimatelylpasses from the tank I0 through the line and through the screens I2 and I3, via the line I8 to the screen I9 and iinally to the starch tables. The starch milk in the line I8 has already been said to be very heavy or approximately 13 Baum.,

Thus the starch and gluten have been taken from the system in two places, and from the screen I9, pass through the line I'|| to the tank II2. From this tank, through the line II3, the mixture goes to the starch tables I I4 from which,

V in the manner known in the art, the starch is directed to the starch washing system |23.

It is in the starch washing system that the entire supply of fresh water for the entire milling system is added. This amounts, for example, to from 12 to 14 gallons per bushel. This fresh water, having first been filtered to remove any starch inadvertently contained therein, resulting from its having been used to remove solubles from the starch, passes through the line |26. The line |26 extends to the junction |21, where the supply of this water is properly divided between the linev 80, leading to the slop washing systems, and the line|20 leading to the inlet line 39 to the germ washing systems. By virtue of the reduced quantities of water necessary in the slop washing stages, as explained, this 11 to 14 gallons of water per bushel of corn is at least substantially The gluten that settles in the gluten settlers IIB is withdrawn through the line ||1 to the gluten press |8in which water is removed and returned by the line ||9 to the tanks IIE for resettling. The gluten thus filter pressed is removed through the line |20.

The Water from the gluten settlers contains valuable proteins, and is directed through the line |20 to the steep tank I, and any necessary small portion is taken from the line |29 by line |30 back into the system. After the steeping operations, the water from the steeps is withdrawn through the line 2 and processed for recovery of the proteins;

From the foregoing it may be seen that a wet l' corn milling system for the recovery of starch and other corn products is devised in which, by the removal of a preliminary quantity of starch and gluten and the reduction of the amount of starch and gluten entering the germ separator, and by a further separation of starch and gluten from the hulls prior to the final grinding and washing operations of same, and by a novel method of washing the germs and hulls, the total amount of Water required in the system is materially re duced and the necessity of reusing the gluten settler water is to at least a major extent, eliminated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a method of making starch and allied products, the steps of separating the germs from a mass in ay germ separator, flowing the ref mainder of the mass from the separator, disinall that is required for these washing operations.

Only at most a. small amount of gluten settler water is recirculated in the present system.

tegrating the remainder in the presence of starch milk to put the starch and gluten disintegrated into suspension with the starch milk, removing this starch milk, directing the remainder ,nto a mill for grinding into coarse and fine slops, and finally washing said slops.

2. In a method of making starch and grain products, the steps of separating out the germs, grinding the remaining mass in the presence of sufficient starch milk to break up the starch grits and the like to put the ground grits into suspension as starch milk, passing the mass obtained into screens lto separate the starch milk from the remainder, returning a portion of the starch milk to the germ separator to alter the gravity therein, withdrawing another portion thereof, and grinding the remainder as slops and washing the same.

3. In a method of making starch and grain products, the steps of separating out the germs in a flotation germ separator, grinding and screening the total mass from the bottom of said separator and separating a starch milk therefrom of high gravity relative to that of the separator, grinding the mass from said screening operation .into slops, washing said slops by the addition of water obtaining a starch milk of low gravity relative to that in the separator, and directing heavy starch milk from said screens and light starch milk from said slop washing into the germ separator to control the volume and gravity therein 4. In a method of making starch and grain products, the steps of disintegrating the grain in the presence of a suspending medium that takes up the nely disintegrated starch and gluten to form a heavy starch milk, screening the mass in preliminary screens to remove at high gravity a substantial portion ofthe starch milk, directing the remainder of the mass into a germ separator operable by. flotation, removing the germs in said separator, grinding and screening the remainder of the entire mass from the bottom of the germ separator in intermediate mill and screens in a e starch milk therefrom to the mass entering the preliminary screens to take into suspension starch therein to enable the same to be withdrawn from the system, and employing another part of the light starch milk from said slop washing for use in controlling the gravity and volume in the germ separator.

5. In a method of making starch and grain products, the steps of disintegrating the grain to liberate the germs therein in the presence of starch milk, directing additional starch milk to the mass to cause a substantial portion of the starch and gluten freed from the kernel in the disintegrating operation to go into suspension, directing the mass-through screens through which the starch milk passes and is removed, directing the remaining mass to a germ separator to remove the germs by flotation, screening the germs thus separated and directing the starch milk therefrom back to the separator to add volume thereto; withdrawing the remaining mass from the separator, grinding the contained grits therein whereby they go into suspension as starch milk, screening the same in intermediate screens to separate the said starch milk, grinding the mass from the intermediate screens to make slops, washing said slops, directing part of the heavy starch milk from the intermediate screens to the germ separator, removing the balance from the system, and directing the starch milk from the slop washing systems to the germ separator, the rst disintegrating mill, and to the preliminary screens.

6.'I.n a method of making starch and grain products, the steps of disintegrating the grain to liberate the germs therein, and providing water to take into suspension starch freed by the disintegration. withdrawing a substantialV portion of the starch therefrom in preliminary screens, separating the germs in a dotation separator, directing the germs to a germ washing system, grinding and screening the hulls and grits obtained from the separator, producing slops, washing the slops, adding fresh water to the starch obtained from the system to wash the same, conveying the water from the starch washing to the germ washing and slop washing systems for operating the same, and directing the water from the germ washing system into the slop washing system to assist in the latter system.

7. In a method of making starch and grain products, the steps of disintegrating the grain to liberatey the germs therein, supplying water to take intosuspension starch freed in the disintegration withdrawing a substantial portion of the starch therefrom as starch milk in preliminary screens, separating the germs in a flotation separator, directing the germs to a germ washing system, grinding the remaining mass obtained from the germ separator in an intermediate mill in the presence of starch milk to cause additional starch and gluten to gointo suspension as starch milk, screening the same, directing this starch milk back into the system ahead of the last-named screening, in pam, and withdrawing the balance, grinding the remaining mass from the intermediate mill and screens into slops, washing the slops, separating the `such starch with fresh water, directing the water from the starch washing system to the germ washing system and to the slop Washing system, directing the water from one of the latter two systems to the other to augment the washing in the same, and returning water from the washing systems to the germ separator to aid in regulating the gravity and volume therein.

8. In a method of making starch and grain products, the steps of steeping the grain, disintegrating it to liberate the germs therein, screening the mass in preliminary screens and withdrawing a substantial portion of the starch and gluten therefrom, separating the germ from the mass obtained from 'the preiiminary screens in a ilotation separator, directing the germs to a germ washing system, grinding in an intermediate mill the total mass obtained from the bottom of the separator to cause additional starch and gluten to go into suspension, withdrawing the suspension through intermediate screens, directing a portion of it back into the germ separator, and withdrawing the balance to starch tables, grinding the mass from the intermediate screens to make coarse and fine slops, separating the slops, directing the separated slops to coarse and lne slop washing systems, washing the separated starch from the starch tables, directing the water from the starch washing to the germ whing system and to one of the slop washing systems, passing the water from the germ washing system into a screen, returning the mass from the screen back to the germ washing system, directing the water from this screen into one of the slop washing systems, directing the water in said slop washing system to flow back through both slop washing systems, then directing it in part ahead of the preliminary screens, and in part into the germ separator, and directing the water Ifrom the gluten settlers back from steeping the grain.

9. A method as in claim 8, including the step of regrinding the mass prior to the preliminary screens and further liberating and breaking up a substantial portion of the grits obtained from the rst mill.

10. In a. method of making starch and grain products in a system having a preliminary withdrawal oi' starch, a germ separator, and slop washing systems, the steps of treating the grain to liberate starch therefrom, and putting said liberated starch into suspension, thereafter removing at least a part of said suspension as starch milk from said series, passing the remainder into the separator, owing the germs away in the separator leaving a balance, removing said balance, crushing the same in liquid to create additional heavy starch milk, withdrawing said'additional heavy starch milk, passing the slops into washing system and owing washing liquid over them, and maintaining the gravity of the separator by the introduction therein of said remainder,- some of said additional heavy starch milk and said washing water from the slop washing systems.

l1. In a closed system of making starch and allied products, including the steps of separat- 'ing out germs from grain in a gravity separator,

starch from the withdrawn starch milk, washing prior to the separator, and of disintegrating systems, and of reducing the amount of water required therein. the steps of supplying a small amount of starch milk-to the grain and disintegrating the grain in the presence lthereof to liberate the germsand to free at least a subtegrating the grain in the presence thereof tov liberate the geruis and to free at least a substantial part of the starch and gluten from the grain, supplying additional starch milk, to cause thev freed starch and -gluten from the disintegrated grain to go into suspension in the supplied starch milk, withdrawing at least a sub^ stantial part of said starch'and gluten in suspension from the said milling system prior to gravity separation of the germs to reduce the mass of material requiring dilution in the vseparator, leaving 'a remainder` including, germs,l thereafter conducting the remainder to the gravity separator, and supplying to it only enough starch mik to dilute it, exclusive of that withdrawn, to separator gravity, separating the germs from the hulls4 in the separator, lconducting the separated germs and hullsto washing systems, supplying only enough water inthe washing systems to ell'ect washing, to effect liberation of the germs. to produce the suspension withdrawn, and to obtain the dilution specied 'for the separator, `flowing the water through the washing systems, and thereafter diverting it to accomplish the said liberation, suspension and dilution as set forth.

:am a method of deriving starch alla is.. vlated products from grain in a wet milling sysfrom the milling system prior to gravity separastantial part of the starch and gluten from the grain, supplying additional starch milk, to cause the freed starch and gluten from the disintegrated grain to go into suspension in the starch milk supplied, withdrawing at least a substantial part'of said starch and gluten in suspensionv tion of the germs to reduce the mass of material requiring dilution in the separator, andto reduce the mass, of starch-bearing material going to the Washing systems, leaving a remainder inf cluding germs,y thereafter. conductingA the remainder to the gravity separator, and supplying to it only enough starch milk to dilute it, ex elusive ,oi'that withdrawn, to separator gravity, separating the .germs from thehulls in the sep`a` rater, conducting the separated germs and hulls to separate washing systems, supplying only water to the systems collectively to eiect washing, to e'ect liberation of the germs, to produce the suspension withdrawn, and to obtain the dilution specified for the separator, Iiowing the^ water rst into the washing systems and causingat least a part of it to counterflow in at least two systems to reduce the amount of Water for washing in said systems, andthereafter diverting the water to accomplish the said liberation, suspension and dilution as set forth.

PHlLO R. KING.

RUSSZEILL D. BAKER.

temincluding argravity separator and 'washing 

